Conference president advises grads, legacy stems from choices

These were among the words of advice and inspiration imparted by Dr. Sandra Roberts, president of the Southeastern California Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists, to 377 La Sierra University graduates. On June 14, Roberts delivered the university’s 2015 commencement address titled “1,788,500 Decisions You’ll Make” to a sea of dark-robed graduates and hundreds of their family members and friends gathered under sprawling trees on Founders’ Green. (To view graduation photos and videos, click here: lasierra.edu/graduation/past-graduations/)

“Coming to La Sierra University was a decision you made probably several years ago. It was a decision that involved trying to discern your vocational calling,” said Roberts who also serves as a university trustee. Many graduates, she said, will leave commencement certain of their next steps, while many others will leave La Sierra uncertain of their future.

Nonetheless, “You will walk off this stage and you will have decisions to make because tomorrow will require the next step. Graduates, your choices to date have led you here. …Your legacy will in fact be the result of the collective outcome of your decisions.”

Roberts cited the research of Sheena Iyengar, Columbia Business School professor and author, and her study that shows people make about 1,788,500 decisions of consequence over 70 years. “That’s about 70 decisions a day …You chose La Sierra University. Now you have more decisions to make.”

She likened the graduates’ journey to that of the Israelites as they prepared to cross the Jordan River into a new region, the Promised Land, and were told to follow the priests and the Ark of the Covenant, or the holy one. “Graduates today you enter new and unknown territory, you are entering a rapidly changing world. As much as La Sierra University has prepared you, it will take courage, it will take strength to move forward into your future and it will require you to keep your eyes on the holy one. The holy one knows the way.”

She advised gradates on how to face the daunting array of choices going forward and told them choices do not have to be made all at once. “It’s not about can you figure your life out. It’s about a faithful journey, step by step.”

“Always collaborate with God’s heart-shaping work. Your heart is always being shaped. The question is graduates, what do you want you heart to look like? What do you want your life to be? It will be shaped by the decisions that you make, and your decisions will be informed by your heart.”

Roberts also provided words of advice based on her life experiences, which include serving as the Adventist denomination’s only female conference president, a position that overseas the largest SDA conference in North America. Quoting management guru Peter Drucker and former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Roberts told the students, “Choose to live boldly, choose to take risks. Do one thing every day that scares you.” 

“Some of you will have your hearts broken and shattered in more pieces than you can imagine,” she continued. “Choose the path that will allow your heart to be reshaped and reformed. Choose to allow God to redirect and choose to have a huge capacity for hope.”

She also directed the graduates to choose integrity, kindness, abundance, generosity, to “choose to do justly, choose to love mercy, choose to walk humbly with your God.”

She added, “And graduates, choose to remember that you came to an Adventist university. It has made an impact on you. Stay in close proximity to us. Choose to still be a part of us. We need you to be part of our lives, our churches, our schools, our community.”

Awards

During the graduation ceremony, several individuals received special honors including Mustafa Al-Barari, president of the Audit Bureau of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan who received an honorary Doctor of Humanitarian Service award. Al-Barari earned a Master of Business Administration from La Sierra in 2003 after studying accounting on scholarship at the University of Jordan and working for the Jordanian offices of one of America’s largest accounting firms. University officials described Al-Barari as “one of Jordan’s best examples of unwavering integrity, immovable work ethic, …and eternal optimism,” and cited his courageous stand for honesty and transparency in the work of the Audit Bureau, values which at one point cost him his job.

After becoming a certified public accountant he was tapped to manage a newly formed Free Trade Zone in Aqaba, Jordan and later became secretary general of the Audit Bureau over which he now presides as president. He represents the bureau with the Jordanian parliament and numerous government agencies and advises members of parliament on legal, economic integrity, governance and corruption issues.

Barari traces his La Sierra connection to his childhood when as an 8-year-old he assisted La Sierra archaeologist, now La Sierra President Emeritus Larry Geraty at the Tall Hisban dig site in Jordan. After Barari’s father died, the youngster begged to take his place on the excavation team, hauling dirt and rocks away form the dig squares in a wheelbarrow. “This guy worked harder than any three men,” Geraty said. “Even at break time he wanted stuff to do.”

Other awards included the President’s Award for Outstanding University Undergraduate Student which went to Allan Moreno, a University Honors program student and history major noted for his community service, intellectual capability and work ethic; and the President’s Award for Outstanding University Graduate Student presented to Richard Patchett who earned a Master of Business Administration in healthcare management with an additional emphasis in finance from the Zapara School of Business, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. Patchett previously graduated with honors in 2012 with a degree in biochemistry. He was noted for his dedication, hard work and perseverance. 

This year’s Distinguished Faculty Service Award was presented to Robert Thomas, chair of La Sierra’s Health & Exercise Science department. Thomas, who also serves as executive director for the Seventh-day Adventist Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Association, is leading research efforts in a study called PhysicalGenesis which examines the fitness levels and lifestyle habits of students attending Adventist schools in the North American Division. He was noted for his numerous faculty leadership roles and university committee participation. He has served as university marshal for commencement and convocation events since 2008.

La Sierra’s annual Jay J. Nethery Award, named for a church official influential in founding La Sierra in 1922, went to Larry and Linda Caviness for their service and significant contribution to La Sierra’s ideals. Linda Caviness, who retired this month from her role as chair of the School of Education’s Curriculum & Instruction division, was noted for her passionate student advocacy and her creation of the “Brain, Affect and Education” specialization in the School of Education. Larry Caviness served as a member of La Sierra’s Board of Trustees from 1997 through February this year in his capacity as president of the Southern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, a post from which he retired in April. He was noted for consistently making decisions based on the impact the board’s actions would have on La Sierra’s students. 

In addition, the university introduced the Verla Rae Kwiram Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award which was posthumously awarded to Luella Kretchmar, a former long-time professor in the Department of Chemistry. The new teaching award will be presented each year to a La Sierra faculty member for leading undergraduate students to academic and personal success. It is established and endowed by Alvin L. Kwiram, a university trustee and educator, and named for his wife, who also served as a trustee for 12 years and was a key organizer in the initiative that founded the Association of Adventist Forums and “Spectrum” magazine.

A moment to remember

For the graduates, many with caps bearing colorful designs and poignant or humorous messages, the day brought a mixture of emotions. 

“The anticipatory feeling and the final hours of graduation itself was nerve-wracking, exciting, and filled with joy all at the same time,” said Tatevik Zakaryan who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. This spring quarter she and her classmate, Vedeline Torreon along with their professor Shelly S. McCoy received a prestigious award for their research (see related story at lasierra.edu/article/seniors-research-on-risk-behaviors-grabs-top-award ).

“It was an amazing feeling being called up on stage and being handed my degree, being cheered for and simply smiled at. It was an extremely gratifying feeling,” Zakaryan said.

About 13 of Zakaryan’s family members and friends attended graduation to cheer her on. This summer she is working full time and studying to be accepted to the clinical psychology doctoral program at Loma Linda University. 

Zakaryan said her time at La Sierra exposed her to many different cultures and backgrounds. “Diversity is so powerful, and I learned to embrace it. I was able to hear and be exposed to different stories, and be reminded time and time again of God’s mercy and grace,” she said. “I was constantly reminded that every student had a story, an individuality, a uniqueness, and that each student has the potential for greatness.”

Patchett, along with about 25 family members and numerous friends celebrated graduation and the honor of his selection for the outstanding graduate student award. “Commencement Sunday was a major milestone for me filled with more excitement and joy than I have ever experienced,” he said.

Patchett’s path to an administrative healthcare career began in medical school. “It had not been an easy journey as many individuals strongly discouraged me to make this transition, but I decided to pursue my passion. I knew I needed take advantage of every learning opportunity I had to apply my classroom knowledge to real world medical scenarios,” said Patchett. “I had countless discussions with the faculty in the School of Business and healthcare executives to learn what I needed to do to make myself a competitive candidate in such a rapidly changing field.”

During the course of his career preparations, Patchett earned Lean and Six Sigma White Belt Certification from the University of Southern California through which he acquired methods to increase efficiency and streamline or decrease waste in the workplace, skills increasingly sought by hospitals.

He also landed an internship with Castle Medical Center in Hawaii where he assisted in creating a five-year strategic plan. In July he begins a position as a financial analyst in the corporate office of the Florida Hospital system where he will work with a team on strategic planning and other analytical reports.

“My undergraduate experience at La Sierra was so positive and the School of Business had such a strong reputation that once I knew I wanted to pursue an MBA in healthcare management, there was no question where I was going to go,” said Patchett. “It was La Sierra. I cannot begin to explain or fathom the positive impact La Sierra has had on my life. La Sierra University fed my desire for knowledge, and through its world-class faculty and connections with outside organizations, opened doors for me that I never knew existed.”